Wellbeing Survey 2026: Faithful but stretched
A clear picture is emerging from this year’s wellbeing survey: clergy and lay ministers remain deeply committed to their calling, but many are carrying more than is sustainable. While overall wellbeing has not sharply declined, resilience appears thinner, pressure more uneven, and those under greatest strain were often least able to respond.
The results outlined below have been discussed at the Diocesan Wellbeing Group and the questions to explore and any suggestions for action are taken forward. This is part of a process we are part-way through, entitled “We asked. You said. We did.” We will follow these responses below, with the actions to be implemented, later on in 2026.
For any questions, please contact the Revd Mark Rodel (Deputy Director for Mission and Ministry).
We Asked: You Said
Strong calling, honest reality
We asked about life and ministry overall
You said: A strong sense of vocation endures, alongside a growing honesty about limits, fatigue, and the realities of ministry today.
Workload tells the story
We asked about pressure and pace
You said: Workload remains the defining challenge, especially where vacancies and multiple responsibilities combine. Rest and retreat are valued, but often difficult to protect. Wellbeing can feel like one more demand rather than a relief.
A question this raises: What would it look like for wellbeing to reduce pressure, rather than add to it?
Different experiences, shared pressures
We asked about the experience of different ministries
You said: Clergy often carry structural and workload pressures. Lay ministers speak of strong local support, but less visibility and clarity at diocesan level. Both experience increased strain during vacancies.
A question this raises: How might different ministries be supported in ways that reflect their distinct realities?
Spiritual renewal — valued, but uneven
We asked about retreats and renewal during the Year of Spiritual Renewal and Wellbeing
You said: Those who accessed opportunities found them deeply beneficial. But many, especially those under the greatest pressure, found participation difficult or unrealistic.
A question this raises: Who can currently access renewal, and who cannot?
Housing matters (for clergy)
We asked about housing and wellbeing
You said: Good housing supports wellbeing significantly. When problems arise, they often amplify stress well beyond the practical issue.
A question this raises: What does it mean to treat housing as part of pastoral care, not just provision?
Fewer voices, important signal
We asked for participation
Fewer people participated this time, especially those under the greatest pressure, often due to a lack of time and capacity.
A question this raises: How do we hear the voices that currently have the least space to speak?
The emerging picture
This is not a story of collapse. It is a story of faithful ministry under strain.
- Vocation remains strong
- Honesty is increasing
- Pressure is persistent
- Capacity is more limited
- Resilience, for many, feels thinner than before
Where this leaves us
Rather than quick conclusions, the survey seems to open up a set of shared reflections:
- What sustains ministry now, and what quietly depletes it?
- Where are pressures rooted in structure rather than personal capacity?
- What helps most when the margin is already thin?
Thank you to all who took part. Your responses are helping us listen more carefully to the lived reality of ministry today.
If you are eligible (you are either in a lay ministry or clergy role) and missed the chance to take part in the survey, you can still do so through the following links (anonymously), or email mark.rodel@stalbansdiocese.org with your comments:
Lay Ministry Wellbeing Survey 2026
Engagement data (as of May 2026):
The survey was sent to 230 clergy, and 528 lay ministers (Readers, Enablers and Lay Leaders of Worship). We had 84 lay minister responses (16%) and 61 clergy responses (27%). This is decrease from 2023 and 2024, where engagement was between 50 – 60%. The survey was not carried out in 2025 during the Year of Spiritual Renewal and Wellbeing. Instead we invited feedback from those who attended the year of retreats, pilgrimages, quiet days and other things organised as part of that year. You can see the results of that YSRWB feedback survey here.